Director, Operations

Flex; Buffalo Grove (IL); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Flex, located in Buffalo Grove, Illinois, seeks a Director of Operations to lead day-to-day manufacturing and drive operational excellence in a regulated environment.

The role requires strong P&L ownership, multi-shift leadership, and hands-on experience with high-speed automation and validated processes. MBA preferred; FDA/ISO audits experience highly valued.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA preferred.
• 10–15 years of manufacturing experience, with 3–5+ years in a Director-level Operations role within Medical Devices or other regulated industries.
• Proven experience leading operations under FDA, ISO 13485, GMP, and customer audits.
• Strong P&L ownership and financial discipline in regulated manufacturing environments.
• Hands-on experience with assembly, high speed automation, and validated manufacturing processes.
• Deep experience managing NPIs, process validation (IQ/OQ/PQ), and design transfer.
• Ability to lead multi-shift operations with a strong safety and quality mindset.
• Lean Daily management experience
• Application lean tools experience
• Humble, data-driven, high-energy leadership and mentoring

Responsibilities

• Guarantee production, delivery in full, on time and in specifications, required by customers, at the most cutthroat cost.
• Define operational financial goals.
• Operational business experience including a successful performance track record managing staff and P&L.
• Establish and communicate Business Unit goals and assignments.
• Define and execute operational programs in line with strategic plans and annual operating goals.
• Meet with Executive Business at least monthly to review and evaluate KOI's.
• Attend quarterly business reviews with key customers.
• Partner with other business to establish strategic plans and goals.
• Direct and control the activities on purchasing business, production control, planning, manufacturing engineering, test engineering, maintenance, manufacturing and logistics.
• Implement appropriate HR strategies and actions to recruit and retain a qualified and motivated workforce.

Skills

Lean Daily management

Lean tools experience

P&L ownership

Education

Bachelor’s degree

MBA

Tools

IQ/OQ/PQ

Design transfer

Job description

Flex is the diversified manufacturing partner of choice that helps market-leading brands design, build and deliver innovative products that improve the world. A career at Flex offers the opportunity to make a difference and invest in your growth in a respectful, inclusive, and collaborative environment. If you are excited about a role but don't meet every bullet point, we encourage you to apply and join us to create the extraordinary.

To support our extraordinary team who build great products and contribute to our growth, we’re looking to add a Director, Operations located in Buffalo Grove, Illinois.

Reporting to the General Manager the Director, Operations who is in charge of managing day-to-day operations and core functions of operations to achieve and maintain operational excellence.

What a typical day looks like:

• Guarantee production, delivery in full, on time and in specifications, required by customers, at the most cutthroat cost.
• Define operational financial goals.
• Operational business experience including a successful performance track record managing staff and P&L.
• Establish and communicate Business Unit goals and assignments.
• Define and execute operational programs in line with strategic plans and annual operating goals.
• Meet with Executive Business at least monthly to review and evaluate KOI's.
• Attend quarterly business reviews with key customers.
• Partner with other business to establish strategic plans and goals.
• Direct and control the activities on purchasing business, production control, planning, manufacturing engineering, test engineering, maintenance, manufacturing and logistics.
• Implement appropriate HR strategies and actions to recruit and retain a qualified and motivated workforce.

The experience we’re looking to add to our team:

• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA preferred.
• 10–15 years of manufacturing experience, with 3–5+ years in a Director-level Operations role within Medical Devices or other regulated industries.
• Proven experience leading operations under FDA, ISO 13485, GMP, and customer audits.
• Demonstrated success delivering measurable results while maintaining high quality and compliance standards.
• Strong P&L ownership and financial discipline in regulated manufacturing environments.
• Hands-on experience with assembly, high speed automation, and validated manufacturing processes.
• Deep experience managing NPIs, process validation (IQ/OQ/PQ), and design transfer.
• Ability to lead multi-shift operations with a strong safety and quality mindset.
• Experience scaling operations while maintaining patient safety and regulatory integrity.
• Strong cross‑functional leadership with Quality, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Regulatory teams.
• Lean Daily management experience
• Application lean tools experience
• We are looking for a humble, secure, persistent, data driven and high energy leader and a good mentor.

KR13

Flex is an Equal Opportunity Employer and employment selection decisions are based on merit, qualifications, and abilities. We do not discriminate based on: age, race, religion, color, sex, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, disability, pregnancy status, or any other status protected by law. We're happy to provide reasonable accommodations to those with a disability for assistance in the application process. Please email [e-mail] and we'll discuss your specific situation and next steps (NOTE: this email does not accept or consider resumes or applications. This is only for disability assistance. To be considered for a position at Flex, you must complete the application process first).